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Gangmember imprisoned 20 years for attempted murder

January 10, 2013, 05:00 AM Daily Journal Staff Report

One of four alleged gangmembers charged in the repeated stabbing of a man in Redwood City was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison after pleading no contest to attempted murder.

Bryan Alexander Morales, 20, also admitted acting to benefit a street gang and causing great bodily injury in the attack. In return for taking the plea deal, Morales received a flat 20-year term with a credit toward the term of 458 days. He must also pay restitution to be determined at a Jan. 16 hearing.

According to prosecutors, Morales along with three teens and a 16-year-old boy stabbed the victim several times in the abdomen at approximately 4:30 p.m. Dec. 13, 2011 on the 800 block of Brewster Avenue. Witnesses reported seeing two males jump out of a gold car, stab the man and flee the area. Police located a car matching the vehicle description at a home in the 2600 block of Marlborough Avenue and ultimately arrested the three teens inside based on their statements. The victim was hospitalized with critical injuries but survived.

Morales’ case was severed from that of his co-defendants after his defense attorney questioned his competency to stand trial. Both court-appointed doctors who evaluated Morales concluded he was able to aid in his own defense and criminal proceedings were reinstated. Morales decided in November to settle his case rather than head to trial.

Co-defendants Jose Antonio Jiminez-Hernandez, 19, and Jose Luis Segurasuarez, 19, are similarly charged and will set a trial date March 8. Co-defendant Billi Ruben Antonio, 19, pleaded no contest in July to being an accessory to a felony and participating in a street gang. He was sentenced to two years with 456 days credit for time served followed by a year of mandatory supervision.